US5407613A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for bending plastic pipe
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-11-09
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Granted: 1995-04-18
•
Expires: 2013-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A bending process including both preliminary and following steps takes place in one apparatus. A plastic pipe (6) is heated to a temperature in which it can be plastically deformed. The heated pipe is thereafter shoved into a pipe-shaped bending channel (27) of a bending tool, with the bending tool comprising two dies (9,10), each respectively defining a groove (14,13) which together form the bending channel. Finally, a cooling agent is allowed to flow through the bent pipe which is still in the bending tool. The thusly cooled pipe is removed from the bending tool after the dies are separated from one another. The apparatus to bend the plastic pipe comprises heating, bending, and cooling stations (1,2,3). The heating station comprises two heating fixtures, and the cooling station comprises a supply line (21,22) with a coupling joint (20) which can be coupled to an end of the pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 Franz Schulte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:35
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29C53/08; B29C53/083; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A process to bend plastic pipe in which a pipe to be bent is first heated, placed in a bending channel determining bending tool and cooled, said process comprising the steps of: Heating the pipe by opposite heating fixtures along a portion thereof which is to be shoved into the bending tool to a temperature at which it can be plastically deformed; Shoving the heated pipe lengthwise, while it is guided by the opposite heating fixtures, into the pipe-shaped bending channel formed of two grooves in adjacent surfaces of two separable dies of the bending tool, a length of the pipe-shaped channel substantially corresponding to a length of pipe to be bent and a cross-sectional radius of each of the grooves thereof substantially corresponding to a radius of the pipe, whereby the plastically deformable pipe is bent by the grooves of the separable dies; Cooling the pipe while it is still in the bending tool; and Separating the dies of the bending tool and removing the pipe therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A process to bend plastic pipe in which a pipe to be bent is first heated, placed in a bending channel determining bending tool and cooled, said process comprising the steps of: Heating the pipe by opposite heating fixtures along a portion thereof which is to be shoved into the bending tool to a temperature at which it can be plastically deformed; Shoving the heated pipe lengthwise, while it is guided by the opposite heating fixtures, into the pipe-shaped bending channel formed of two grooves in adjacent surfaces of two separable dies of the bending tool, a length of the pipe-shaped channel substantially corresponding to a length of pipe to be bent and a cross-sectional radius of each of the grooves thereof substantially corresponding to a radius of the pipe, whereby the plastically deformable pipe is bent by the grooves of the separable dies; Cooling the pipe while it is still in the bending tool; and Separating the dies of the bending tool and removing the pipe therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the heating fixtures which carry out the step of heating the pipe are electrically heated heating fixtures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein is further included the step of enlarging the bending channel before the heated pipe is shoved thereinto by slightly separating the dies and wherein is further included the step of thereafter driving the dies together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the cooling of the pipe step is accomplished by flowing a cooling medium through the pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as in claim 4 wherein the cooling medium pumped through the bent pipe is a liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as in claim 5 wherein is further included the step of drying the pipe interior through which the cooling liquid has been flowed by flowing a gas therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein is further included the step of separating the heating fixtures slightly when the pipe is shoved into the bending tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process to bend plastic pipe in which a pipe to be bent is first heated, placed in a bending channel determining bending tool and cooled, said process comprising the steps of: Heating the pipe by opposite heating fixtures along a portion thereof which is to be shoved into the bending tool to a temperature at which it can be plastically deformed; Shoving the heated pipe lengthwise into the pipe-shaped bending channel formed of two grooves in adjacent surfaces of two separable dies of the bending tool, a length of the pipe-shaped channel substantially corresponding to a length of pipe to be bent and a cross-sectional radius of each of the grooves thereof substantially corresponding to a radius of the pipe, whereby the plastically deformable pipe is bent by the grooves of the separable dies, the separable dies being separated during this step to enlarge the pipe-shaped bending channel; Driving the dies together to make the pipe-shaped channel smaller and thereby finally shape the heated pipe; Cooling the pipe while it is still in the bending tool; and Separating the dies of the bending tool and removing the pipe therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process to bend plastic pipe in which a pipe to be bent is first heated, placed in a bending channel determining bending tool and cooled, said process comprising the steps of: Heating the pipe by opposite heating fixtures along a portion thereof which is to be shoved into the bending tool to a temperature at which it can be plastically deformed; Shoving the heated pipe lengthwise into the pipe-shaped bending channel formed of two grooves in adjacent surfaces of two separable dies of the bending tool, a length of the pipe-shaped channel substantially corresponding to a length of pipe to be bent and a cross-sectional radius of each of the grooves thereof substantially corresponding to a radius of the pipe, whereby the plastically deformable pipe is bent by the grooves of the separable dies, the separable dies being separated during this step to enlarge the pipe-shaped bending channel; Driving the dies together to make the pipe-shaped channel smaller and thereby finally shape the heated pipe; Cooling the pipe while it is still in the bending tool; and Separating the dies of the bending tool and removing the pipe therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as in claim 8 wherein the heating fixtures which carry out the step of heating the pipe are electrically heated heating fixtures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as in claim 8 wherein the cooling of the pipe step is accomplished by flowing a cooling medium through the pipe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as in claim 10 wherein the cooling medium pumped through the bent pipe is a liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as in claim 11 wherein is further included the step of drying the pipe interior through which the cooling liquid has been flowed by flowing a gas therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as in claim 8 wherein is further included the step of separating the heating fixtures slightly when the pipe is shoved into the bending tool.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3753635A
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US4747768A
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DE4215920A1
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-17 | 1998-10-17 | 1999-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-17 | 2002-10-17 | 2003-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-17 | 2006-10-17 | 2007-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |